Wringer release for laundry machines

ABSTRACT

A laundry machine wringer-releasing mechanism having a one release linkage from a manual pressure bar and a second release linkage operated by an eccentric and cam arrangement for releasing the wringer upon excessive sidewise torque on the wringer head, the two linkages being independently operable.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Karlis V. Racenis Ripon, Wis.

[21] Appl. No. 831,519

[22] Filed June 9, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee MeGraw-Edison Company Ripon, Wis.

[54] WRINGER RELEASE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES 12 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,332,129 10/1943 Blough 7 68/263 X Moon 68/263 X 2,406,066 8/1946 Etten 68/263 2,734,372 2/1956 Kauffman. 68/263 2,778,214 1/1957 Moon 68/263 3,295,341 1/1967 Cuthbert et al 68/263 X Primary ExaminerDavid H. Brown Att0meyWolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann ABSTRACT: A laundry machine wringer-releasing mechanism having a one release linkage from a manual pressure bar and a second release linkage operated by an eccentric and cam arrangement for releasing the wringer upon excessive sidewise torque on the wringer head, the two linkages being independently operable.

WRINGER RELEASE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES It is an object of the present invention to provide an impulse wringer release mechanism for laundry machines which will release the pressure on the wringer rolls whenever excessive sidewise force is applied to the wringer head such as the pull or sudden reactive movement of a machine operator which normally results if a part of the operators body or clothing become caught between the rolls. In another sense,'the object of the invention is to provide a safety release mechanism for the wringer rolls which can be operable as a result of instinctive movement and reaction of the operator without conscious releasing action by the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a wringer with such a release mechanism which permits manual swinging of the wringer head to any of a number of angular positions without release of the rolls but in which the safety release is operable at any of the angular positions.

Another object is to provide a wringer release mechanism having independently operable release linkages of which one includes a manually operated release bar for intentional wringer roll release by the operator and the other includes a linkage automatically responsive to sidewise force on the wringer head in excessive of a normal operating torque for releasing the rolls.

A more detailed object is to provide an eccentric means associated with the swinging support for the wringer head and a cam mechanism operated thereby for releasing the pressure on the wringer rolls upon limited swinging movement of the wringer head either toward or from the operator. A related object is to provide a release mechanism responsive to either a pushing or a pulling force on the wringer head in excess of a predetermined force.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the attached detailed description and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevation of a laundry machine wit a wringer head incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a wringer head incorporating the present invention taken lengthwise of the head along the line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective of the trigger latch and its mounting for the upper wringer roll;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective of a latch finger and coupling mounted on the wringer pressure applying crank;

FIG. 6 is a partial horizontal section of the wringer head taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical transverse section of the wringer head taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 showing the mechanism in latched position;

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical transverse section like FIG. 7 but showing the mechanism in unlatched position;

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical section of the wringer head showing in dot-dash lines the released position of the latch and movable head section;

FIG. 10 is a perspective of the eccentric and cam release member;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section of the eccentric and centering mechanism taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal section showing the positioning and locking plate and is taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 13 is a partial section taken along the line 13 13 of FIG. 9 showing the cam and lever release positions in dotted outline.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a wringertype washing machine 10 having a pressure roll-type wringer 11 supported on a vertical wringer post 12 which is attached to the side of the wash tub 13. The washing machine tub and drive mechanism may be of any suitable form of which various arrangements are well known in the art. As shown in FIG. I, the wringer assembly 11 is mounted for horizontal swing about a vertical axis extending through the post 12, to permit angular positioning of the wringer at various positions relative to the tub.

An overall assembly view of a wringer mechanism incorporating the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. The general construction of the wringer housing, roll supports and drive mechanism is illustrated and described in further detail in Schroeder U.S. Pat. No. 2,288,847, granted July 7, 1942. For present purposes a brief description of the support and drive for the wringer rolls and reset mechanism after release of the rolls will be sufficient. The exemplary form of wringer structure embodies a frame comprised of a base section 20 having spaced upstanding end members 21, 22 arranged to support a relatively movable head section 23. The two frame sections 20, 23 each support one of a pair of cooperating wringer rolls 24, 25 respectively. Supporting the lower roll 24 for rotation in a fixed position is a pair of bearing brackets 26, 27 secured to the base section 20 as by screws 28. Each of the brackets 26, 27 is adapted to receive a bearing 31 for opposite end portions of the shaft 32 of the lower wringer roll.

The relatively movable head section 23 is a channel-shaped member longitudinally dimensional for extending between end members 21, 22. Depending arms 33 at the ends of head section 23 extend downwardly toward the upper edges of the brackets 26, 27. Sidewalls on brackets 26, 27 are spaced apart to receive the arms 33 in telescoping fashion to maintain vertical alignment of the respective sections 20, 23. For supporting the head section 23, a shaft 38 has its ends pivoted in bosses 39, 40 in the end members 21, 22 respectively. Between its ends the shaft is offset, as may be seen in FIG. 2, to provide a longitudinal central crank portion upon which the head 23 is rotatably mounted by bearings 41, 42 on end walls 34, 35 of arms 33 of the head 23. The shaft 38 thus supports the head for swinging relative to the base section and rotation of the shaft produces a vertical shifting of the head, the extend of offset being sufficient to shift the head between an elevated position clear of the brackets 26, 27 and a lowered, telescoped position between the sidewalls of the brackets 26, 27.

The upper roll 25 is supported for sliding movement longitudinal of the arms 33. The ends of the upper roll shaft 43 are journaled in movable bearing supports 45 having end plates 46 slidably fitted in vertically elongated slots 47 in end walls of the depending arms 33. Guard walls or plates 48 between the bearing assemblies and the ends of the upper roll are fixed to the head section and prevent outward movement of the upper roll and its bearings from the bearing supports.

Extending from each side of the bearing supports are ears 50 which are apertured to provide seats for the heads of bolts 51 extending vertically inwardly of the arms 33 along opposite sides thereof. The upper or inner ends of the bolts carry nuts 52 and compression springs 53 around the bolts bear between the nuts 52 and ears 50. The upper or inner ends of bolts 51 are seated loosely in recesses provided in bosses 49. The springs 53 are not compressed except when the head section is moved downwardly with the upper wringer roll in operative engagement with the lower wringer roll. Operative engagement is caused by rotation of the shaft 38 to lower its central crank portion by which the upper roll moves downwardly into contact with the lower roll after which continued downward movement of the head compresses the springs 53. A latch mechanism for holding the head in lowered position against the compressive force of the springs 53 will be described hereinafter.

For moving the head downwardly a wringer reset lever 57 is provided, and in the illustrative structure, the lever also serves to start, stop and reverse the direction of rotation of the wringer rolls. The reset lever 57 is fixed to the outer projecting end of a longitudinally extending shaft 56 which is journaled for rotation in a bearing sleeve 55. The sleeve 55 is rigidly supported by a vertical, transverse partition wall 54 spaced inwardly from the outer face of the end housing 22. The inner end of the lever shaft 56 carries a crosswise crank plate 58 on the inner face of which are mounted a pair of transversely spaced apart rollers 59, 60 in eccentric relation to the shaft 56. The rollers 59, 60 are positioned for engagement with side flange 61 formed on one side ofa toggle plate 63 pivoted near its lower end by pin 64 fixed to the partition 54 for swing parallel thereto. Near its upper end the toggle plate 63 carries a pivotally attached link 65 which in turn, is pivoted to the outer end of an arm 68 rigidly mounted on the offset portion of the crank shaft 38. A spring 70 surrounding a guide pin 71 bears against an inturned flange 73 on the central portion of the toggle plate 63 in the direction of its swinging movement to cause the link 65 and arm 68 to swing offset portion of the crank shaft 38 to its upper position above the axis of the shaft.

The operation of the wringer reset mechanism thus far described is as follows. When the wringer is in inoperative position, the head section 23 is elevated by the springs 53. The wringer rolls 24, 25 are separated and the offset portion of shaft 38 is above the shaft axis. The toggle plate 63 and associated parts are urged to one side of the end housing 22 by the spring 70 as shown in FIG. 8, with the plate flange 61 in engagement with toggle plate rollers 59, 60 respectively. Rotation of the hand lever 57 and the reset shaft 56 in either direction causes one or the other of the rollers 59, 60 to press against its mating flange 61 and to swing the toggle plate 63 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the outer end of housing 22. This movement of the toggle plate 63 transmits a force to toggle link 65 which'in turn swings the arm 68 and shaft 38 in a clockwise direction to lower the offset portion of the shaft 38 and lower the head section 23 for engagement of the wringer rolls 24, 25.

Prior wringer constructions have been provided with quick manual release means for latching the head section in its lowered operative position. A preferred form of the latch and release mechanism best shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 will now be described. The crank shaft 38 has a rigid cylindrical coupling 79 fixed as by screws 80 around part of the offset portion, one end of which terminates adjacent the middle of the shaft with a radially offset finger 81 extending parallel to the shaft 38. Cooperating with the offset finger 81 is a vertically disposed trigger member 82 formed with a flat bottom strap 83 and upstanding legs 84, 85 at the ends thereof. The trigger is pivotally supported at its upper end by depending bosses 87, 88 mounted on the underside of the upper housing wall. A strap 89 fastened to the bosses 87, 88 has upturned flanges 90 on its opposite side edges to which upper ends of legs 84, 85 are pivotally connected for swing toward and from the end of the offset finger 81. One of the legs 84 of the trigger 82 is aligned with the finger 81 and has a latch detent 91 having a flat bottom face or edge for engaging the finger 81 to hold the shaft 38 in its lowered position. The upper face or edge of the detent is sloping to cam and swing the trigger 82 away from the coupling 79 upon downward rotary movement of the finger 81.

To operate the trigger 82, manual wringer release bars 92, 93 extending across the open wringer space immediately above the wringer rolls are provided At each end of the release bars is a support arm having a pivot pin connection, as at 94, to the guard plates 48 to allow swinging movement of the release bar toward the movable housing for unlatehing and releasing the wringer rolls. For this purpose, a horizontal cam plate 95 is placed between the two release bars 92, 93 and above the upper wringer roll 25. Each of the bars is connected at its center to the adjacent side of the cam plate 95, as by a screw 96 such that by pressing inwardly on one bar the cam plate is moved edgewise in the open space below head section and pushes the release bar on the opposite side outwardly. The sidewise, transverse movement of the cam plate is transmitted to the trigger 82 for releasing the head section by the edges 97 of a triangular cutout section of the cam plate engaging a roller 98 depending into the cutout section from the bottom strap of the trigger 82. The cam edges 97 are inclined at about 45 angles with respect to the direction of movement of the cam plate such that the movement causes one or the other of the cam edges 97 to push the trigger away from the offset finger 81 and release the shaft 38 for upward rotation of the offset portion. A coil tension spring 99 interconnected between the roller support stud 100 and the control end 101 of the cam plate 95 resiliently urges the roller 98 against the cam edges 97 and toward latched position.

In accordance with the present invention means are also provided for releasing the upper head section 23 in response to the normal reflex action of a machine operator should the operator's clothing or a part of his body be engaged by the wringer rolls. Such reflex action is normally a push or a pull on the head of the wringer and means are therefore provided for release upon the application of a side force to the head greater than a predetermined amount. Such release means is associated with the releasable positioning mechanism which restricts the angular position of the wringer with respect to the vertical post or column which supports the wringer on the washing machine. In the present embodiment of the invention, the side or horizontal force responsive release mechanism acts independently of the previously described release bars such that either the release bars or the force responsive mechanism are available at all times to release the wringer rolls.

To describe the preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will now be made in more detail to the support and drive means for the wringer assembly 11. Within the support column or post 12 is a vertical power shaft 105 for delivering rotary power from a suitable power source, such as an electric motor, to drive the lower wringer roll 24. In the illustrated construction, the power shaft is journaled at its upper end in a bearing 106 in a horizontal boss integral with the partition 54 and at its center section by a second bearing 107 in the bottom wall of the end housing 22. lntermediate the two bearings, a pair of integral reversing gears 108, 109 are splined on the power shaft 105 for axial sliding under the control of the handle 57 through a crank linkage, indicated generally at 110. Swing of the handle 57 in one direction moves the gear unit upwardly so that the upper drive gear 108 engages the top side of a crown gear 112 fixed to drive the lower wringer roll 24 in one direction. Swing of the handle 57 in the opposite direction moves the gear unit downwardly to engage the lower drive gear 109 with the lower side of the crown gear 112 for reverse rotation of the bottom roll 24, A central sliding position of the gear unit disengages both gears and disconnects the drive to the wringer roll. For a more detailed description of the power drive gearing and control linkage therefor reference is made to said US. Pat. No. 2,288,847.

Surrounding the drive shaft 105 for positioning the wringer head on the support column is a guide tube 113 which slides into a receiving aperture formed in an elongated vertical bearing member 114 in a wringer support casting 115 which is fixed by bolts 1 16 to the top of the support column or post 12. To permit removal of the wringer head, the drive shaft 105 extends below the guide tube 113 and has an axially slidable power transmitting connection with the upper end of a permanently mounted power shaft 119 in the support column. In the present embodiment, the slidable connection comprises a flat sided nut 120 which is fixed to the lower end of the drive shaft 105 and is slidably received in a complimentary flat sided socket 121 on the upper end of the power shaft.

Positioning the wringer head vertically with respect to the machine tub are a flat annular upper face 122 on the support casting 115 and a mating flat annular face 123 depending from the bottom wall of the wringer control housing 22. The flat mating surfaces 122, 123 together with the sliding fit between the guide tube 113 and the sides of the vertical bearing sleeve 114 in the support casting 115 position the wringer head relative to the machine and prevent vertical tilting of the head but permit horizontal swing about the axis of the guide tube and the inner drive shaft, indicated as x-x in FIGS. 1 and 13. This relative horizontal swing is utilized until certain conditions for releasing the wringer rolls in the manner now to be described.

in carrying out the present invention, releasable and torque responsive indexing means are provided for holding the wringer head in one or more predetermined positions of horizontal swing of the head relative to the support column. The predetermined positions of swing are determined in the illustrative construction by a series of spaced apart holes 124 formed in a circular pattern concentric with the turning axis xx of the head as determined by the guide tube bearing 114. Cooperating with the indexing holes 124 is a vertically movable indexing pin 125 mounted on the bottom portion of the wringer head such that the pin can enter and retract from each of the indexing holes to locate the head in predetermined angular positions. For purposes to be explained, the indexing pin 125 is eccentrically mounted on the lower end of a cylindrical plunger 126 slidably received in a vertical cylindrical bore 127 located adjacent the guide tube 114. The upper end of the plunger has a shallow, central bore 128 for receiving and locating a compression indexing spring 129, the upper end of which bears against a horizontal flange 130 on the partition wall 54. The indexing spring 129 urges the plunger 126 and the integral indexing pin 125 to the lower holding position but permits upward releasing movement of the pin upon actuation of a swing release handle assembly. The latter comprises a rod 132 having an offset center portion 133 which is received in an annular slot 134 in the central portion of the plunger 126. The ends of the rod project through bearing holes in the respective sides of the control head housing 22. On each of the portions of the rod extending beyond the sides of the housing is radially mounted handle 135 for rotating the release rod to retract the index pin 125 against the resilient force of the spring 129 when it is desired to swing the wringer head from one position to another.

The cylindrical shape of the indexing plunger 126 and its cylindrical receiving bore 127 in the housing allow not only vertical linear movement of the plunger and the indexing pin, but also permit rotary motion of the plunger which motion is used in practicing the present invention for release of the wringer rolls. For this purpose, the indexing pin 125 is positioned eccentrically with respect to both the rotating axis of the plunger and the swing axis x-x of the wringer head as previously described. By such relative location of the indexing pin, a swinging movement of the head when the pin is projecting into an indexing hole causes the pin 125 to act as a crank to rotate the plunger 126. One or the other side of the engaged indexing hole 124 restrains the pin 125 from following a swinging or angular motion of the head while the longitudinal axis of the plunger is forced to swing with the head. The relative motion causes the pin to lag behind the bodily translation of the plunger and thus rotate the plunger through an appreciable angle.

Cooperating with the plunger motion, force translating means are provided for releasing the wringer rolls in response to the angular rotation of the plunger. For this purpose, cam means are formed on an upward extension of the plunger 126 for operating a release linkage. As shown in the drawings, an upper portion of the plunger is cut away leaving an upright cam piece having a flat vertical cam surface 138 facing and parallel to the axis of plunger rotation. In engagement with the cam face is a short horizontal follower bar 139 which interconnects the lower ends of two spaced-apart vertical levers 140, 141. Force transmitting levers 140, 141 are also interconnected by a horizontal bar 142 at their upper ends which terminate adjacent the top of the control housing generally in line with the wringer trigger release assembly 82. Intermediate their ends the levers 140, 141 are pivotally mounted by horizontal pins 143 journaled in bosses 144 formed on the side of the housing partition 54. Around one or both of the horizontal lever pivot pins 143 is a small coil torsion spring 145. One end of the spring 145 presses against the supporting boss 144 and the other presses against the lever for resiliently urging the follower bar 139 on the lower end of the lever against the plunger cam face 138. Any rotation of the plunger from its normal position will rock one or the other side edges of the cam face 138 toward the follower bar 139 causing it to swing the bottom of the lever assembly toward the drive shaft and gearing, that is, away from the lower wringer roll. At the same time the upper end of the lever assembly is swung in the opposite direction toward the rollrelease trigger 82.

To transmit the motion of the upper end of the lever to the trigger 82, a generally horizontal push rod or lever 147 is pivoted at one end 146 to the release trigger leg 84 at a point intermediate its own pivotal support and the latch detent 91. The other end of the push lever 147 extends under the topwall of the movable wringer housing 23 toward the control housing 22 and through a guide slot 148 formed in the end wall 35 of the housing. In order to permit independent movement of the movable housing, the push lever 147 terminates at itssecond end substantially in alignment with the end face of the housing 23. For operative engagement between the push lever 14 7 and the upper end of the vertical levers 140, 141, the lever crossbar 142 has a rigid abutment 149 which projects toward the end of the push lever in axial alignment therewith. The projection 149 extends to the inner end of the control housing 22 and may touch lightly, or be spaced by a small amount from, the end of the push lever 147. Any movement of the top ends of the vertical levers 140, 141, toward the trigger release mechanism 82 will be transmitted through the rigid projection 149 to the end of the push lever 147 which in turn will swing the release trigger away from the latch finger 81 on the roll pressure shaft 38.

As thus far described, it will be seen that after the indexing pin has been set in an indexing hole 124 to hold the wringer head in a given angular position, any movement of the head from that position will cause the indexing plunger 126 to be rotated and the cam surface 138 to swing the vertical lever assembly in a direction to move the top of the assembly toward the wringer release trigger 82 and release the movable housing and upper roll. It is desirable, however, to restrict the swinging of the wringer head such that a minimum predetermined torque is required before the releasing mechanism will operate. The minimum requiredtorque should be greater than the force resulting from the torque developed by the drive gearing in normal operation. It will be appreciated that without a restraint against swinging of the wringer, the gearing on the vertical drive shaft could swing the wringer about the drive shaft rather than drive the lower wringer roll. Means are therefore provided to permit swinging of the wringer head and consequent release of the upper housing 23 only when a given sidewise force is applied.

In the illustrated machine, two means are shown which pro vide a resistance to horizontal swing of the wringer head 11 about the support axis xx. One means includes a pair of centering springs 151, 152 which resiliently tend to hold the indexing pin 125 in its neutral or center position. The springs 151, 152 are coil compression springs placed in an open arcuate groove or channel 153 formed in the bottom face of the control housing. Preferably the slot 153 is about 180 in length and located on the side of the control housing base opposite from the indexing pin. The end walls of the slot form respective abutments 154 for the ends of the springs 151, 152. Holding the springs in the slot and also transmitting their restraining force is a force plate 155 held against the open bottom of the housing base by a retainer ring or washer 156, an annular groove being formed in the center drive shaft supporting boss to receive the retainer ring or washer 156.

In cross section the base section of the control housing has parallel sides 157 which are closed at the outer end by a semicircular wall 158. The force plate 155 is located in the downwardly opening recess defined by the base walls 157, 158 and is generally circular in shape to conform to the outline of semicircular portion of the recess for limited rotation relative to the wringer head. For transmitting the force of the centering springs 151, 152 the force plate 155 has a short section or tab 159 approximately midway between the ends of the spring receiving slot, turned upwardly between the adjacent ends of the springs 151, 152 such that they engage and press against respective sides of the upturned section. The portion of the plate 155 immediately beneath the indexing pin 125 comprises a generally triangular shaped extension 160 and has a radially elongated hole 161 to receive the downwardly projecting pin. Since the springs 151, 152 oppose each other and resiliently press against opposite sides of the upturned section 159 of the plate, they resist any rotation of the plate with respect to the control housing 22. The sides of the plate aperture 161 which receives the indexing pin 125 transmit this resistance to the pin and plunger 126. Swing of the wringer head 11 is thus prevented unless the force tending .to swing the head exceeds the resistance of the springs. Preferably, one of the springs has a greater resilient strength than the other to take into account the torque caused by the roll drive shaft and gearing. The spring of greater strength is the one which pushes the plate in a direction opposite to that of drive shaft rotation. By so adjusting the resilient force of the springs, the operating force for the release mechanism can be better balanced in the two directions of swing of the wringer head.

The second means for applying a resistance to relative swing of the head 11 and to establish a minimum sidewise force or torque necessary to release the wringer rolls includes a vertical groove 163 formed in one side of the indexing pin plunger 126 and a centering release pin 164 resiliently urged into the groove 163 for releasably holding the plunger 126 against turning relative to the head. As shown in FIG. 9, the release pin 164 is slidably supported in a hole 165 in the inner side wall of the control housing 22 which hole is aligned with the groove 163 when the plunger 126 is in its center or neutral position. The projecting end of the release pin 164 that enters the groove 163 is rounded or tapered, as are the sidewalls of the groove, so that relative turning of the plunger 126 earns the pin out of the groove. Providing resistance to this camming action is a compression spring 166 which is compressed between the inner end of the pin 164 and a holding screw 167 threaded into the outer end portion of the pin supporting hole 165. By increasing or decreasing the compressive strength of the spring 166 the amount of force on the wringer head needed to permit the plunger 126 to rotate and release the rolls can be predetermined. it will be understood that either one or both of the described centering means may be used depending on the release action desired and the details of the particular wringer construction.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a wringer release mechanism is provided which is responsive to manual release of the wringer rolls, in particular release of pressure on the upper roll 25, through the operation of the horizontal release bars 92, 93 immediately above the opening in the wringer head. These bars 92, 93 operating through the cam plate 95 and its diagonal cam edges 97 move the release trigger 82 toward the free end of the wringer and release the locking engagement between the trigger detent 91 and the latching finger 81 fixed for rotation with the pressure shaft 38. Upon such release, the pressure springs 53 rotate the offset portion of the shaft 38 upwardly, lifting the movable head 23 and separating the rolls. Independently of the release bars, the eccentric positioning of the indexing pin 125 with respect to both the swing axis x--x of the wringer and the turning axis of the plunger 126 is operative to likewise release the wringer rolls through the cam action of the plunger face 138, the cam follower bar 139, links 140, 141, projecting link 149 and push rod 147.

By providing two one-way force transmitting connections, the independent release by each of the two release mechanisms is obtained. One such connection in the preferred form is between the cam edges of the cam plate 95 and the roller 98 on the trigger 82. The second of these connections is the abutting engagement of the second end of push rod 147 and the projecting link 149. Force is transmitted through each of these connections in a direction to cause wringer release independently of the other. It will also be appreciated that by providing a vertical cam face 138 on the indexing plunger 126, a slip connection is provided between the plunger and the cam follower bar 138 in which the cam face can move parallel to the follower to permit raising and lowering of the plunger for manually indexing the wringer to a new angular position without releasing the pressure rolls. A versatile release mechanism incorporating the safety features of a manual release and an impulse or reaction release is therefore provided.

1 Claim:

1. A release mechanism for a wringer-type washing machine having a releasable wringer roll movable between operative and inoperative positions, a mounting head therefor, a pivotal support on said machine for swing of said head about a vertical axis and a power shaft concentric with said pivotal support axis for driving the wringer comprising in combination:

a. releasable latch means for holding said roll in operative I position,

b. means including an indexing member for holding said head in predetermined angular positions,

c. means responsive to a predetermined minimum torque tending to swing said head around said vertical axis when in one of said predetermined angular positions, said torque-responsive means including mounting means for said indexing member for movement thereof in one direction for releasably maintaining said head in a predetermined angular position and movable in another direction in response to said predetermined minimum torque for releasing said latch means,

d. and manually operable means releasing said latching means independently of said torque-responsive means.

2. The release mechanism of claim 1 in which resilient means are provided for maintaining said indexing member in a neutral position for torque less than said predetermined minimum.

3. A release mechanism for a wringer-type washing machine having a releasable wringer roll movable between operative and inoperative positions, a mounting head therefor, a pivotal support on the washing machine for swing of said head about a vertical axis and a vertical power shaft concentric with said pivotal support axis, comprising in combination:

a. indexing means for angularly positioning and maintaining said head in predetermined angular positions relative to said machine including an indexing member mounted for movement in one direction for engaging and disengaging said indexing means and movable relative to said head in another direction from a neutral position in response to limited angular swing of said head relative to an indexed position thereof,

b. latch means for holding said wringer roll in operative position,

0. force-transmitting means having an operative connection with said latch means for releasing the latter,

d. motion-translating means interposed between said forcetransmitting means and said indexing member for moving said force-transmitting means in a latch releasing direction upon movement of said indexing member in said other direction from neutral position,

e. and means for maintaining said indexing member in neutral position below a predetermined torque tending to swing said head relative to an indexed position.

4. The release mechanism of claim 3, in which said indexing member is mounted for movement in said one direction on an axis parallel to said pivotal support axis and in said other direction in a plane transverse to said pivotal support axis.

5. The release mechanism of claim 3 in which said indexing means includes means rigid with said indexing member and defining a depression having sloping sidewalls, a latch pin supported in said head for movement into said depression when said indexing member is in neutral position and adapted to be cammed out of said depression by said sloping walls upon movement of said indexing member from neutral position and resilient means urging said latch pin into said depression for resiliently resisting movement of said indexing member from neutral position.

6. The release mechanism of claim 3 in which said means for maintaining said indexing member in neutral position includes a pair of springs resiliently acting on said member in opposed directions.

7. The release mechanism of claim 6 in which said wringer head defines an arcuate groove around said pivotal support axis, said springs being located in said groove in opposed relation, a plate overlying said groove and rotatable on said pivotal support axis, said plate engaging said indexing member and having a projection interposed between said springs whereby said springs resiliently urge said plate and said indexing member to a neutral position.

8. The release mechanism of claim 3 in which said indexing means includes a circular series of spaced holes around said pivotal support axis, said indexing member is a pin movable into and out of said apertures for engaging and releasing said indexing means and means for mounting said pin includes a cylinder supported for linear movement parallel to said pivotal support axis for indexing said head and for rotary movement about an axis parallel to and offset from said pivotal support axis upon limited angular swing of said head in either direction relative to an indexed position.

9. The release mechanism of claim 8 in which said cylinder defines a transverse groove, crank means on said head having an offset portion in said groove and a handle for manually moving said cylinder in said linear direction for engaging and releasing said indexing means and said motion translating means including a sliding connection for linear movement of said cylinder independently of said force transmitting means.

10. The release mechanism of claim 8 in which said indexing pin is eccentrically mounted on said cylinder in alignment with the centers of said series of apertures and in which said motion-translating means includes a projection on said cylinder defining a flat surface parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylinder.

11. The release mechanism of claim 10 in which said motion-translating means also includes a bar for engaging said flat surface and spring means for holding said bar in engagement with said surface for movement of said bar in a given direction upon rotary motion of said cylinder in both forward and reverse directions and for sliding contact between said surface and said bar upon linear movement of said cylinder.

12. A release mechanism for a wringer-type washing machine having a releasable wringer roll movable between operative and inoperative positions, a mounting head therefor,

a pivotal support on said machine for swing of said head about a vertical axis and a power shaft concentric with said pivotal support axis for driving the wringer comprising in combination:

a. releasable latch means for holding said roll in operative positions, said latch means including spring means for resiliently forcing the same to latch position,

b. means for holding said head in predetermined angular positions,

means responsive to a predetermined minimum torque tending to swing said head when in one of said predetermined angular positions for releasing said latch means, said torque-responsive means including a linkage engaging said latch means and having a push rod and a first oneway force-transmitting connection means, said one-way connection means including an end portion of said push rod and an abutment member on said linkage movable into engagement with each other for moving said latch means against the force of said spring means,

d. and manually operable means including a second oneway force-transmitting connection for releasing said latching means independently of said torque-responsive means, said second one-way connection including a cam follower on said latch means and a cam operable by said manual means, said spring means urging said follower against said cam. 

1. A release mechanism for a wringer-type washing machine having a releasable wringer roll movable between operative and inoperative positions, a mounting head therefor, a pivotal support on said machine for swing of said head about a vertical axis and a power shaft concentric with said pivotal support axis for driving the wringer comprising in combination: a. releasable latch means for holding said roll in operative position, b. means including an indexing member for holding said head in predetermined angular positions, c. means responsive to a predetermined minimum torque tending to swing said head around said vertical axis when in one of said predetermined angular positions, said torque-responsive means including mounting means for said indexing member for movement thereof in one direction for releasably maintaining said head in a predetermined angular position and movable in another direction in response to said predetermined minimum torque for releasing said latch means, d. and manually operable means releasing said latching means independently of said torque-responsive means.
 2. The release mechanism of claim 1 in which resilient means are provided for maintaining said indexing member in a neutral position for torque less than said predetermined minimum.
 3. A release mechanism for a wringer-type washing machine having a releasable wringer roll movable between operative and inoperative positions, a mounting head therefor, a pivotal support on the washing machine for swing of said head about a vertical axis and a vertical power shaft concentric with said pivotal support axis, comprising in combination: a. indexing means for angularly positioning and maintaining said head in predetermined angular positions relative to said machine including an indexing member mounted for movement in one direction for engaging and disengaging said indexing means and movable relative to said head in another direction from a neutral position in response to limited angular swing of said head relative to an indexed position thereof, b. latch means for holding said wringer roll in operative position, c. force-transmitting means having an operative connection with said latch means for releasing the latter, d. motion-translating means interposed between said force-transmitting means and said indexing member for moving said force-transmitting means in a latch releasing direction upon movement of said indexing member in said other direction from neutral position, e. and means for maintaining said indexing member in neutral position below a predetermined torque tending to swing said head relative to an indexed position.
 4. The release mechanism of claim 3, in which said indexing member is mounted for movement in said one direction on an axis parallel to said pivotal support axis and in said other direction in a plane transverse to said pivotal support axis.
 5. The release mechanism of claim 3 in which said indexing means includes means rigid with said indexing member and defining a depression having sloping sidewalls, a latch pin supported in said head for movement into said depression when said indexing member is in neutral position and adapted to be cammed out of said depression by said sloping walls upon movement of said indexing member from neutral position and resilient means urging said latch pin into said depression for resiliently resisting movement of said indexing member from neutral position.
 6. The release mechanism of claim 3 in which said means for maintaining said indexing member in neutral position includes a pair of springs resiliently acting on said member in opposed directions.
 7. The release mechanism of claim 6 in which said wringer head defines an arcuate groove around said pivotal support axis, said springs being located in said groove in opposed relation, a plate overlying said groove and rotatable on said pivotal support axis, said plate engaging said indexing member and having a projection interposed between said springs whereby said springs resiliently urge said plate and said indexing member to a neutral position.
 8. The release mechanism of claim 3 in which said indexing means includes a circular series of spaced holes around said pivotal support axis, said indexing member is a pin movable into and out of said apertures for engaging and releasing said indexing means and means for mounting said pin includes a cylinder supported for linear movement parallel to said pivotal support axis for indexing said head and for rotary movement about an axis parallel to and offset from said pivotal support axis upon limited angular swing of said head in either direction relative to an indexed position.
 9. The release mechanism of claim 8 in which said cylinder defines a transverse groove, crank means on said head having an offset portion in said groove and a handle for manually moving said cylinder in said linear direction for engaging and releasing said indexing means and said motion translating means including a sliding connection for linear movement of said cylinder independently of said force transmitting means.
 10. The release mechanism of claim 8 in which said indexing pin is eccentrically mounted on said cylinder in alignment with the centers of said series of apertures and in which said motion-translating means includes a projection on said cylinder defining a flat surface parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylinder.
 11. The release mechanism of claim 10 in which said motion-translating means also includes a bar for engaging said flat surface and spring means for holding said bar in engagement with said surface for movement of said bar in a given direction upon rotary motion of said cylinder in both forward and reverse directions and for sliding contact between said surface and said bar upon linear movement of said cylinder.
 12. A release mechanism for a wringer-type washing machine having a releasable wringer roll movable between operative and inoperative positions, a mounting head therefor, a pivotal support on said machine for swing of said head about a vertical axis and a power shaft concentric with said pivotal support axis for driving the wringer comprising in combination: a. releasable latch means for holding said roll in operative positions, said latch means including spring means for resiliently forcing the same to latch position, b. means for holding said head in predetermined angular positions, c. means responsive to a predetermined minimum torque tending to swing said head when in one of said predetermined angular positions for releasing said latch means, said torque-responsive means including a linkage engaging said latch means and having a push rod and a first one-way force-transmitting connection means, said one-way connection means including an end portion of said push rod and an abutment member on said linkage movable into engagement with each other for moving said latch means against the force of said spring means, d. and manually operable means including a second one-way force-transmitting connection for releasing said latching means independently of said torque-responsive means, said second one-way connection including a cam follower on said latch means and a cam operable by said manual means, said spring means urging said follower against said cam. 